‘Sudden price hike also hurts wet market traders’

Effendi Hasim

KUCHING (Dec 1): The price hike of wet market items is a cause of concern not only amongst consumers, but also the hawkers and traders selling them, who themselves are still recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a survey conducted by The Borneo Post over three major wet markets early yesterday – namely Medan Niaga Satok and Petanak Central Market in Kuching, and Bandar Riyal Market in Kota Samarahan – it was found that the prices of many products had increased, with some registering a hike of more than 50 per cent.

Chicken seller Effendi Hasim, 40, believed that the rising cost of chicken feed was among the contributing factors to the price hike.

“Previously, live chickens sold wholesale for around RM6 per kilogramme and could be marked up to around RM9 per kilogramme.

“Now at RM9 supplier’s price per kilogramme, I can no longer mark up the price,” said the trader, who operates a unit at Medan Niaga Satok.

Effendi said due to domino effect, the prices for chicken parts such as the breasts, thighs and wings had also increased.

“We do whatever we can to mitigate the high costs, including slaughtering and process the chickens ourselves,” he said.

Effendi’s wife Noryn Abdullah said she, as with many other traders at Medan Niaga Satok, was very puzzled by the sudden price hike.

“We have no idea what the cause behind it.”

Based on the price list displayed at Effendi’s trading lot, a whole chicken is at RM11 per kilogramme, breast meat at RM16 per kilogramme, rib at RM11 per kilogramme, wings at RM16 per kilogramme, and thighs at RM15 per kilogramme.

Fellow Medan Niaga trader Kibawen Kapawi said he had to mark up the price for ‘kembung’ (Indian mackerel) at RM18 per kilogramme just to break even.

Previously, the fish sold for RM14 per kilogramme.

Kibawen Kipawi

“For frozen catch, we need to consider the weight after the ice melts.

“Each box, with its frozen content, weighs 10 kilogrammes, but after thawing, the weight would be around eight to nine kilogrammes,” said Kibawen, 35.

He said in view of the situation, he had to ‘accept complaints from customers’.

“Some of them understand the situation, and some are perplexed by it.

“It is difficult for us to either reduce or increase the prices. All we can do is to cooperate and negotiate with them (customers) to achieve a win-win situation.

“In line with the increase in prices, we have to inform the customers before they make any purchase,” added Kibawen.

Chin Yie Hing, a vegetable seller at Petanak Market, opined that the price hike could be due to the monsoon season, as well as higher operating costs incurred by his suppliers, the majority of whom are farmers.

He also believed that the cost involved in procuring fertilisers and pesticides also contributed to the rising price of vegetables.

Chin Yie Hing

“Should the suppliers increase the price, I’d have no choice but to increase it as well.

“How would I gain any profit if I didn’t increase it?” the 54-year-old trader lamented.

He also felt sorry for his customers operating food stalls, who were forced to raise the prices of their food items as well due to this situation.

Jimmy John, 47, a pork seller at Bandar Riyal Market, had to mark up the price to RM21 per kilogramme, versus RM20 per kilogramme previously.

He said although the price of pork had always depended on the market situations, factors such as rising production costs, especially those involving pig feeds, could push it higher.

Jimmy John

“For now, we follow market pricing – if it’s increasing, so would the prices of pork, pig’s feet and intestines.

“In line with the price hike, the price for pork could be around RM22.50 per kilogramme,” said Jimmy.

From a consumer’s view, retired army officer Edwin Dundang said although the prices of some items had remained the same, the quantity appeared to have been trimmed down.

“See here – I bought this spinach for RM2, but the bunch is not as big as before,” he said when met at Bandar Riyal Market.

Edwin Dundang

Edwin said the price hike was worrisome as he had to spend more with limited income, while having limited movement due to the pandemic, especially with the emergence of the new Omicron variant.

For ‘cucur pisang’ (banana fritters) seller Railah Maliki, the bananas sold at Bandar Riyal Market were more expensive than the ones she used to get from her previous supplier.

“The bananas here (Bandar Riyal) go for between RM4 and RM4.50 per kilogramme.

“From my past suppliers, they were cheaper at around RM1.80 to RM2 per kilogramme, but I no longer deal with these suppliers,” said the 57-year-old.

Raliah Maliki

Railah lamented that because of the sudden price hike, she was forced to scale down her ‘cucur’ production.

“All the costing is off. Now, I’m very worried – how can I continue selling ‘cucur’ in times like this?” she said.

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